With a sharp cry, Natsu's delicate wings fluttered behind her. Under the astonished gazes of countless people, she soared into the sky.
"Which village's ninja is this girl? She... she can fly?"
"Yeah... she's so beautiful, like a peacock..."
"The first battle is already this exciting? We've definitely gotten our money's worth!"
...
The onlookers exchanged whispers as they witnessed Natsu's current state.
Natsu opened her mouth, gazing at the girl flying above, and couldn't help but scratch her head.
"Ah, this..."
"Little girl, why aren't you following the usual path?"
"Flying so high, to attack her..."
Natsu, though outwardly calm, was in a state of internal turmoil.
"Should I use Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence? Or open the Six Gates and use Morning Peacock?"
"Would that kill her?"
Natsu, flying in the sky, saw Natsu's unruffled demeanor, without even a hint of an intention to attack first. Her heart was filled with admiration for Orochimaru-sama's disciple.
"As expected of Orochimaru-sama's direct disciple, such bearing, such composure..."
"Only by using my full strength can I be worthy of Senior Natsu's regard."
"Then... watch me!"
Natsu's fighting spirit surged. Her slender hands crossed quickly in front of her.
"Peacock Miaofa - Beast - Dragon Form!"
With a delicate shout, a large amount of blue chakra surged around Natsu, condensing into two dragon heads behind her.
"Secret Technique - Twin Dragon Launch!"
The two dragon heads behind Natsu opened their mouths simultaneously, and dense chakra orbs rapidly gathered within.
The next moment, a continuous stream of chakra orbs erupted from the dragon mouths, transforming into two small, dragon-shaped illusions as they descended, roaring towards Natsu.
"What a beautiful technique!"
Natsu praised, forming three hand seals with unhurried movements.
"Water Style - Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
A cerulean water dragon suddenly rose from Natsu's feet, letting out a silent roar as it met the swarming small dragons descending from above.
"Boom!"
The water dragon, released by Natsu based on the strength of Natsu's chakra, was instantly pierced through by the ever-increasing number of small dragons in a clash of equal power. With a splash, it dissolved into a shower of water droplets.
"He didn't even use his strongest Wood Style ninjutsu, and only used Water Style to break my Pseudo-Beast Secret Technique!"
"Senior Natsu is truly powerful!"
Natsu grinned sheepishly at Natsu's praise.
Heaven knew he only knew this one long-range Water Style ninjutsu. Any more...
Heh...
Ever since he switched to taijutsu and awakened Wood Style, for some unknown reason, if a ninjutsu required more than three hand seals, he couldn't remember it. Was this something he could tell others?
Natsu was unaware of Natsu's internal monologue. Seeing that he had easily deflected her attack and still hadn't made a move, she admired Natsu's demeanor even more.
"He said it was a sparring match, but Senior Natsu's true intention is to use this opportunity to guide us weaklings from the small ninja villages, isn't it?"
"As expected of the grandson of the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, such a noble spirit..."
With another strong dose of self-suggestion, Natsu's spirit was lifted, and she attacked again.
"Secret Technique - Merge!"
The two dragon heads behind her let out a deafening roar simultaneously. They stretched out from Natsu's back, intertwined, and slowly condensed into a single, much larger dragon head.
"Secret Technique - Dragon Breath Barrage!"
The large dragon head's mouth flashed with light, and a brilliant blue beam shot out, striking downwards with lightning speed.
...
"Hmm?"
"This technique used by the little girl from Hoshigakure is quite similar to when I use the Hound Digging Bullet!"
"Just a little weaker in power..."
Above the arena, Kurama squatted on Orochimaru's shoulder, using the stealth effect of Sage Mode to comment on the battle in Ring 1.
Orochimaru nodded gently.
"This child named Natsu has good talent."
"Let's watch more! If she can force Natsu to use methods other than Water Style, besides the promise I made to the Third Hoshikage to incorporate the younger generation of Hoshigakure into Konoha, I can give her some additional benefits."
Kurama chuckled, looking forward to Natsu's next performance.
"This move won't break through that brat Natsu's defense..."
"Her chakra seems to be running low. Whether she succeeds will likely depend on the power of her next attack."
...
Arena.
Facing the attack that arrived in an instant, Natsu's eyes lit up. He clasped his hands together in front of him, then supported his left hand with his right, giving Natsu in the sky a thumbs-up.
"Water Style - Water Prison Wall!"
Completing the same hand seals as the Second Hokage (Water), Natsu's chakra surged, and a furiously rotating circular water screen, unlike any defensive ninjutsu, suddenly rose from the ground around him.
The rapidly spinning water provided strong defense.
It not only easily blocked Natsu's fierce, laser-like attack but also continuously dissipated the attack's power through the deflecting force generated by the flowing water curtain.
Natsu in the air continued to push her chakra, maintaining the light pillar from the dragon head behind her.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't break through the water screen surrounding Natsu.
"As expected, I'm still too weak!"
"My chakra is running low. If I continue this attack, I won't be able to maintain flight for long."
"Then..."
Unable to break through, Natsu gritted her teeth and suddenly stopped the secret technique.
"Senior Natsu, this is my final attack!"
"Secret Technique - Hundred Beasts Gnawing!"
With a low cry, Natsu, leaving just enough chakra to maintain flight for a while, poured the rest into the dragon head behind her.
The dragon head, which had nearly doubled in size, roared and dissolved into nearly a hundred light orbs.
Under Natsu's control, these light orbs quickly twisted and morphed, instantly transforming into ferocious-looking beasts and birds.
"Roar!"
"Caw!"
...
The roars and cries of beasts echoed in the sky.
Spectators looked up at the wild animals, some treading on the air, others flapping their wings, swarming towards the water screen below, cheering loudly.
As soon as the hundred beasts landed, under Natsu's control, they began to run rapidly in the direction of the water flow of the Water Prison Wall.
Within a few breaths, the flying beasts, using their advantage, accelerated to match the speed of the water flow.
Natsu's eyes lit up, and she immediately and without hesitation manipulated these flying beasts to attack the Water Prison Wall.
Inside the ring-shaped defense of the Water Prison Wall, Natsu could only judge what was happening outside by the sounds due to his obscured vision.
As he wondered why so many beasts were suddenly running around the arena, the water screen around Natsu suddenly suffered a violent impact and began to tremble.
"This girl has quite a few tricks..."
Natsu praised with a smile and was about to reinforce the Water Prison Wall with his chakra when the water screen suddenly trembled and shattered into pieces with a splash.
Natsu, flying in the sky, looked pale, but seeing Natsu's outer defense broken, she mustered her strength and commanded all the beasts to rush towards the stunned Natsu.
"This idiot..."
Orochimaru sighed and shook his head helplessly.
"Haha..."
"Orochimaru, rather than calling Natsu a fool, it's more accurate to say this girl Natsu is too smart."
"Knowing that a direct attack might not break through the Water Prison Wall, she cleverly had the transformed beasts increase their speed to match the water flow, breaking the wall with minimal cost..."
"This girl is similar to that Minato kid, a genius in combat!"
"I think she can be taken in!"
Kurama, an ancient monster who had lived for a thousand years, had incredibly sharp insight. He quickly grasped Natsu's combat strategy.
"Let's give her the status of a disciple first!"
"As for teaching her, I'll have to wait until I'm done with my current matters."
Orochimaru nodded, acknowledging Natsu's qualification as a disciple.
...
On the stage, Natsu looked at the swarm of beasts rushing towards him from all directions with a helpless expression, sighing inwardly.
"This is it!"
"It would be too unfair to use the Water Prison Wall again to repel these beasts."
"And..."
Natsu raised his hands to his chest, forming the Snake Seal, and looked up at the pale-faced Natsu.
"Her chakra is probably depleted. There's no point in continuing the fight."
"However, I acknowledge you!"
"Natsu-san..."
Natsu gave Natsu in the sky a friendly smile and nodded gently.
"Wood Style - Wood Spikes!"
Dense, sharp wooden spikes rose from the ground around Natsu. As Wood Style chakra was output, more spikes grew on these spikes. In an instant, a wide circular blockade formed around Natsu.
The charging beasts, before they could even touch Natsu's body, were pierced by the increasing number of wooden spikes, letting out mournful cries as they dissipated into nothingness.
"Very strong combat talent!"
"Natsu-san, I acknowledge you!"
Natsu beckoned to Natsu, who was swaying in the sky, and called out affectionately.
"Thank... thank you, Senior Natsu!"
Natsu landed on the ground, staggering slightly.
Despite her pale face, upon hearing Natsu's words of acknowledgment, she expressed her gratitude with a joyous expression.
"Our battle is over. You have passed my assessment."
"After all the matches are concluded, you will enjoy all the normal treatment like a Konoha ninja."
"As for Teacher Orochimaru..."
Natsu stroked his chin, and under Natsu's expectant gaze, he slowly nodded.
"I will ask Teacher Orochimaru on your behalf if he is willing to take another talented disciple."
"So... I wish you good luck!"
Natsu was so excited she didn't know what to say, only bowing repeatedly to Natsu in gratitude. It wasn't until Sanshou Fish Hanzo, serving as the referee, saw her about to fall that he forcibly pulled her off the stage.
"Ring 1, First Match. Natsu, the winner, will continue to be the擂主."
"Any contestants who wish to challenge Ring 1 may step forward!"